Veterans from across Illinois came to Springfield May 6 for the second Senate Republican Veterans Legislative Day, and Senate lawmakers spent much of week working in committees to meet the May 8 deadline to move House bills, according to Senator Tim Bivins.

Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont and Governor Pat Quinn presented opening remarks for the second Veterans Legislative Day. Senator Bivins, Republican spokesperson of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, talked with veterans about current legislation, and other speakers explained what programs and benefits are available.

Also meeting veterans were Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Dan Grant; and representatives from Congressmen Peter Roskam’s, Aaron Schock’s and John Shimkus’ offices.

One of the many bills moved out of committees this week was a measure that would prohibit elected officials convicted of official misconduct, or removed from office by conviction or impeachment, from financially benefiting from their misdeeds.

News Detail

Senate Week in Review: May 4-8, 2009

5/11/2009

House Bill 4078 presumably targets former Governor Rod Blagojevich, whose impeachment and removal from office has sparked worldwide interest and a lucrative book deal. Some lawmakers believe that the former Governor, who was recently slapped with a 19-count indictment on corruption charges, should not be able to benefit financially by telling his story.

House Bill 4078 would allow the Attorney General to file a forfeiture action against the elected official to recover all proceeds traceable to the official’s offense that harmed the citizens of Illinois. Though there is support for the legislation’s intent, similar attempts to prohibit criminals from receiving compensation for books detailing their criminal activities have been declared unconstitutional as an infringement of the individual’s First Amendment rights.

Testimony at a May 5 meeting of the Joint Committee on Ethics centered on the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (IHFPB). Pamela Davis, President and CEO of Edward Hospital in Naperville, and the whistleblower who worked with the FBI to help uncover the “pay-to-play” schemes and corruption at the IHFPB, testified in favor of legislation that would remove current Board administrators who served during that time.

The legislation would prohibit David Carvalho, Deputy Director at the Department of Public Health, from continuing to serve as an ex-officio member of the IHFPB, and terminate Jeffrey Mark, IHFPB Executive Secretary. Both men defended themselves and said they acted accordingly, maintaining they notified proper officials when they noticed suspicious activity.

On May 7, House Speaker Michael Madigan went one step further to restore public confidence in Illinois government, introducing House Bill 4450, which would remove anyone appointed by Governors Rod Blagojevich or George Ryan to one of an estimated 90 state boards and commissions.

Senator Bivins said allegations and findings of corruption on several state boards have led to increased public scrutiny and criticism of the appointment process. Many legislators are reserving judgment on the Speaker’s action until they can more fully examine the legislation and its impact. It is projected that House Bill 4450 could impact 3,000 people, but the bill gives Governor Quinn the ability to issue a 60-day stay and reappoint sitting board members.

Legislation approved by Senate committees this week includes:

Abuse (HB 3649): Requires the Department of Public Health to investigate every allegation of abuse, and requires hospital employees to report any suspected abuse.

Aid (HB 745): Allows applicants for public aid to apply at any local Department of Human Services office, not just the office in the county where the applicant resides.

Animal Shelters (HB 4036): Provides that animal shelters may not allow animals to be adopted without being sterilized or getting a microchip.

Cell Phones (HB 72): Prohibits drivers from using cell phones in school or construction zones unless using a hands free device.

Child Abuse (HB 224): Requires a person convicted of a sexual offense against a child by the use or threat of force to wear a GPS tracking device as a condition of parole.

Conservation Fund (HB 36): Replaces $16 million in state wildlife and fish funds so Illinois does not lose federal monies, and also prevents future transfers from the fund.

Comprehensive Care (HB 838): Provides that no person may operate as a participant as part of the Comprehensive Care in Residential Settings Demonstration Project until they obtain a valid license.

Dentists (HB 921): Requires every dental office to have an emergency medical plan, and requires all dental offices that administer anesthesia or sedation to have an automated external defibrillator on the premises.

Disabilities (HB 1035): Mandates the State Board of Education and school districts to provide education about people with disabilities and the history of people with disabilities.

Disease (HB 3922): Requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to investigate the causes of dangerously contagious or infectious disease and the health effects, conditions or ailments related to biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear events.

DNA (HB 935): Requires every person arrested for committing a felony to submit a DNA sample at the time of booking.

Economic Development (HB 798): Creates a local economic development grant program to stimulate the economy.

EPA (HB 4021): Requires the EPA to provide notice to the public whenever there is a risk that dangerous vapors/gases are emitted from the soil.

Firearms (HB 1032): Increases the penalty for selling or giving a firearm to a convicted felon from Class 4 to Class 3 felony.

FOID Card (HB 3991): Requires denial or revocation of the FOID card of a person who is the subject of an order of protection.

Foster Care (HB 4054): Establishes a program of transitional discharge from foster care for teen-age foster children, helping former foster youths younger than 21 who encounter significant hardship upon emancipation to reengage with the Department of Children and Family Services.

Health Grants (HB 208): Establishes grants for constructing or renovating health care centers.
Insurance (HB 2325): Extends insurance coverage from nine months to 12 months for employees who would lose their health insurance because they have lost their job or had their hours cut.

ISAC Grant (HB 168): Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to award grants to students who participate in the Clinical Center Achievement Program at SIU-Carbondale.

Lobbyists (HB 1060): Expands the Lobbyist Registration Act to include those who lobby members of state boards and commissions.

Medicaid (HB 1033): Expands Medicaid eligibility to include coverage to uninsured persons who have been screened and found in need of treatment for prostate or testicular cancer.

NPDES (HB 170): Provides that no private sewage disposal system that discharges into public waters can be built without a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the EPA, unless the system is built in a jurisdiction that has a general NPDES.

Obesity (HB 3767): Organizes at least six hearings on the health effects and costs of obesity and the need to address the obesity epidemic.

Pedestrians (HB 43): Requires vehicles to stop and yield to pedestrians at intersections without traffic signals.

Robbery (HB 10): Increases the penalty for individuals convicted of robbing or burglarizing a day care center.

RSDS (HB 9): Requires the state Department of Public Health to establish a Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome education program to promote public awareness of the syndrome and the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.